U.S. Chinese Ambassador Locke to Speak at ABACE2013 Opening Session

Contact: Dan Hubbard, (202) 783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org

Washington, DC, March 19, 2013 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that the Honorable Gary Locke, American ambassador to China, will speak at the April 16 Opening General Session of the 2013 Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2013), which will take place from April 16 to 18 at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

“We are very pleased to welcome Ambassador Locke to his first appearance at ABACE,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “I’m certain that those attending the event’s Opening General Session will appreciate the ambassador’s informed perspective on the relationship of bilateral cooperation between the United States and China, and how that relationship can help promote the continued growth of business aviation in China and throughout the Asia-Pacific.”

Ambassador Locke is the first Chinese-American to hold the position of U.S. ambassador to China. Throughout his career, he has worked to maintain mutually beneficial diplomatic and economic relationships between the U.S. and China.

Prior to his appointment as U.S. ambassador to the People’s Republic of China in August 2011, Ambassador Locke served as secretary of commerce in President Obama’s cabinet, where he co-chaired two sessions of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, which emphasized improving the trade balance between the two countries.

The ambassador also served two terms as governor of Washington, where he successfully worked to increase the state’s exports to the Asia-Pacific region.

“The continued development of business aviation throughout the Asia-Pacific represents not only an encouraging sign for improved access to the region, but also the potential for bolstering U.S. exports,” said Locke.

Presented through a partnership between the Shanghai Airport Authority and NBAA, ABACE2013 is expected to feature more than 150 exhibits showcasing business aircraft, as well as aviation financiers, service providers, legal specialists and more. Educational sessions to be held throughout ABACE2013 will also provide information on financing, purchasing, operating, and maintaining a business aircraft.

ABACE2013 will be co-hosted by NBAA, the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) and the Shanghai Exhibition Center (SEC) at the Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Centre. More information is available at www.abace.aero.

# # #

Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 9,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.

Members of the media may receive NBAA Press Releases immediately via email. To subscribe to the NBAA Press Release email list, submit the online form